The holiday originated on November 11, 1919, and was designated to mark the one-year anniversary of the end of World War I. Fighting in that war had ended on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of the year 1918.
Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 to honor all veterans, living or dead, who served in the United States Armed Forces.
Below is the front page of the Lorain Journal from November 11, 1926.
Since the holiday was specifically connected with the end of World War I, it was a solemn affair and was celebrated quite differently than now. As one article noted, "America paused for two minutes today in honor of her war dead.
"Business activity of the nation was suspended at 11 a. m., the hour that the Armistice ended the war. In Lorain, the city hall was closed. Flags lined both sides of Broadway.
"Great cities' traffic was stopped. The trains that roar day and night thru the network of New York's subways halted where they were. Not a wheel turned in the city. In office buildings the power was turned off and lights and machinery stopped.
"In Chicago buglers blew taps at every corner in the busy loop district. Other big cities made recognition of the day in similar ways.
"The chief exercise was at Arlington where a wreath was placed on the tomb of the Unknown soldier."
I'm not sure if there is a similar observance anywhere today, with stopped traffic, etc. I think that communities just schedule their special events to take place at 11:00 am.
It's understandable why it happened, but it's too bad that Veterans Day and Memorial Day have somewhat been stripped of their origins – and both wars have been largely forgotten by the general public, with World War II not far behind.
You didn't forget, Dan... thank you.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless all our men & women who have, or are now serving this Great Country.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing to me that even World War II has been forgotten by large parts of the population. I was born after the war, but it was a strong presence in the nation's culture when I was young. I suspect that most people do not know the origins of the holidays you mention, Dan.
ReplyDeleteHaving a father who served in WW II, and cousin in WW I, we never forgot the wars. But neither were they glorified. Dad always said he didn't have "a day" since those belonged to the boys who never made it home.
ReplyDeleteAnd... The Barbatano murder (column 3) remained unsolved.